A Gold Coast cafe has apologised and posted a new job ad after warnings against being ‘sexist’

An Aussie cafe has apologised and backflipped on a controversial job advertisement that called for a “female barista”.

A Gold Coast cafe has apologised and backflipped on a controversial job advertisement that called for a “female barista”.

The ad by Jekyll and Hyde Coffee Lab is now calling for applicants of “all genders” to apply for a vacant barista role at the Mudgeeraba cafe, a position which has been vacant for almost a year.

“Need a barista. All genders invited to apply,” the new posting reads.

“Apologies previous ad was worded incorrectly. Was never meant to offend.”

The correction comes after the cafe received widespread backlash for its ad posted last week calling for “female barista” applicants.

Although the previous post has been taken down, an earlier post from the cafe’s owner has remained — in it she describes her ideal applicant as someone who “looks half way decent”, has “morals” and isn’t “righteous”.

Jekyll and Hyde Coffee Lab has made a new job ad after public backlash. Picture: Facebook

Jekyll and Hyde Coffee Lab is an award-winning Gold Coast cafe.

Georgina Rebecca Clothier posted to her personal account before re-sharing to the cafe’s account in January that she was looking for someone who “wants to stick around, does not intend to go to uni, (and) can commit to turning up (five) days a week” for work at her cafe.

“(Someone who) lives a fairly normal life with no dramas on the daily, can smile, be genuine, have a funny bone in their body, looks half way decent, drives a car, has some morals, is a team player, doesn’t want to sit on their phone every 10 minutes,” she continued.

“And most importantly can make coffee,” she added.

“Is that alot (sic) to ask for? I think so because there’s doesn't seem to be many of these rare specimens around! Please don’t waste my time because Im (sic) over it.”

Initially the cafe was unapologetic about the controversial “female barista” job ad posted to its social media accounts, saying it was never meant to offend or exclude men.

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, Ms Clothier said the poster “never said males can’t apply”

“That’s where you, and a few other people who commented on it, are getting it wrong,” she told the paper.

“Nowhere does it say ‘only’ female baristas.”

According to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, it is “unlawful to discriminate against a person because of their sex” – limited exemptions apply for religious institutions and voluntary bodies.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reports the cafe has been searching for a new barista since September, initially calling for someone with “experience” to apply; but switched to specifying “female barista” on Tuesday, February 19.

And despite the backlash against both the job post and social media post calling for a “rare specimen” Ms Clothier told the publication she had successfully worked with male and female staff in the past and the cafe did not intend to only hire women.

“I am not sexist – if you and other people want to take it that way that’s a personal preference to them,” she said.

“This is not coming from a place of badness at all – I’m a person who own a business and I’m trying to employ people from my local community and now I’m going to get scathed for it.”

She said people can take “everything the wrong way” on social media, but insisted: “it’s not sex discrimination”.

News.com.au has approached Jekyll and Hyde Coffee Labs for comment.

Originally published as A Gold Coast cafe has apologised and posted a new job ad after warnings against being ‘sexist’